OAKLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRAS KICKS OFF ITS 41ST SEASON WITH A 6th GRADE SOLOIST FROM THE PHILHARMONIA

OXFORD, MI – October, 26, 2015-- Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) kicks off its 41st season with a 6th grade soloist from the Philharmonia Orchestra. The Philharmonia is typically comprised of 7th - 12th graders and the soloist from that orchestra is only in 6th grade. Charles (Charlie) Bonten is an 11-year-old sixth grader at Hart Middle School in Rochester. Charlie is a 4-year veteran in OYO. Charlie began lessons on the violin at the age of two, studying the Suzuki Method. Charlie will solo with the String Orchestra on this occasion in Concerto No. 2 in G Major, 1st Movement by Joseph Hayden.

The String Orchestra will also play 3 very new works in addition to the aforementioned classic by Hayden. The new works include: Darkened Shadows composed by Joshua Reznicow, A Prayer for Peace (from “Munich”) composed by John Williams and Funky, Funky, Funky composed by Matt Turne.

The Studio String Orchestra will also perform selections that range from a new to classical favorites: Quinta composed by Larry Clark, The Hunger Games arr. Robert Longfield, Conquistador composed Deforah Baker Monday and Hungarian Dance No. 5 composed by Brahms, arr. David Shaffer.

The Philharmonia Orchestra will give the audience a taste of Russia with dance music from famous Russian composers: Waltz from “Sleeping Beauty,” Op. 66 composed by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, The Fair at Sorochinski “Gopak” composed by Modest Mussorgsky, Three Dances from the Gayane Ballet composed by Aram Khachaturian 1. Dance of the Rose Maidens 2. Lullaby 3. Sabre Dance and Russian Sailor’s Dance from “The Red Poppy” composed by Reinhard Gliere.

The Symphony Orchestra will perform Symphony #7 in D minor, Opus 70 composed by Antonin Dvorak : I. Allegro maestoso, II. Poco adagio, III. Scherzo and IV Finale: Allegro. The Seventh Symphony in D minor is truly a masterpiece by one of the all-time greatest composers.

Oakland Youth Orchestras 41st season Fall Concert is November 5th, 2015. The concert will be held at the Oxford Fine Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Oxford Fine Arts Center is located at Oxford High School, 745 N. Oxford Road, Oxford, MI 48371.

Tickets will be available at the door: Adults–$10, children and students–$5, and ticket quartets–$30 (includes four tickets).

Oakland Youth Orchestras has been educating and enriching youth through music since 1975. In 1975, OYO had 50 students and one orchestra. Today, OYO is a four-tiered orchestra program (Studio String, String, Philharmonia and Symphony orchestras) serving over 350 students in grades two through twelve from Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties in southeast Michigan. The mission of OYO is to inspire student musicians by providing an exceptional orchestral experience to public, private and home schooled students. OYO fosters enrichment through opportunities in music theory, chamber music, community outreach performances and competitions.

OYO is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council of the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as Corporate and Foundational Support from Oakland University Department of Music, DCI Aerotech, Charity Motors, Kroger, Meijer and

Community Foundation Greater Rochester.

Visit www.oyomi.org to learn more about OYO and why it has been, and will continue to be one of the finest youth orchestras in southeast Michigan